Deploying and implementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms to support tri-party trading

ABSTRACT

Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for deploying and implementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms to support tri-party trading are presented. In some embodiments, a central trading computing platform may receive, from a retirement group accounts administration computer system associated with a financial institution, trade information defining one or more trades in one or more mutual funds for one or more accounts administrated by the financial institution. Subsequently, the central trading computing platform may validate the trade information and create order information based on the trade information. Then, the central trading computing platform may send the order information to a clearing entity computer system. The order information may be configured to cause the clearing entity computer system to settle the one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financial institution with a custodian different from the financial institution.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/842,921, filed Sep. 2, 2015, and entitled“Deploying and Implementing Centralized Trading and Tracking ComputingPlatforms to Support Tri-Party Trading,” which is incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Aspects of the disclosure relate to computer hardware and software. Inparticular, one or more aspects of the disclosure generally relate tocomputer hardware and software for deploying and implementingcentralized trading and tracking computing platforms to supporttri-party trading.

Large organizations, such as financial institutions and other largeenterprise organizations, may provide many different products and/orservices. To support these complex and large-scale operations, a largeorganization may own, operate, and/or maintain many different computersystems that service different internal users and/or external users inconnection with different products and services. In addition, somecomputer systems internal to the organization may be configured toexchange information with computer systems external to the organizationso as to provide and/or support different products and services offeredby the organization.

As a result of the complexity associated with the operations of a largeorganization and its computer systems, it may be difficult for such anorganization, such as a financial institution, to efficiently,effectively, securely, and uniformly manage its computer systems, andparticularly manage how internal computer systems exchange informationwith external computer systems in providing and/or supporting differentproducts and services offered by the organization.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the disclosure relate to computer systems that provideeffective, efficient, scalable, and convenient ways of securely anduniformly managing how internal computer systems exchange informationwith external computer systems to provide and/or support differentproducts and services offered by an organization, such as a financialinstitution.

For example, one or more aspects of the disclosure relate to centralizedtrading and tracking computing platforms that may perform variousfunctions, including supporting tri-party trading, and may integratewith other computer systems operated by an organization, such as afinancial institution. As illustrated in greater detail below, thecentralized trading and tracking computing platforms may support tradingoperations in which a financial institution operating the centralizedtrading and tracking computing platforms trades assets that are heldaway from the financial institution by a third-party custodian ortrustee on behalf of a customer or other beneficiary.

Increasingly, some customers of financial institutions, such asorganizations that operate employer-sponsored retirement plans and otherlarge investors that may have assets that are traded, held, or managedby a financial institution, may wish to have some or all of their assetsheld away from the financial institution (e.g., by a third-party trusteeor other custodian) to mitigate the risks that might otherwise arise ifall of their assets were held by a single financial institution. Asdiscussed in greater detail below, one way that this can be accomplishedis by utilizing DAC/RAP (delivery against collateral—receipt againstpayment) in which certain assets are held by a trustee-custodian for abeneficiary, and a third-party administrator (e.g., the financialinstitution) trades the assets on behalf of the beneficiary. Thesearrangements may present certain difficulties, however, as thethird-party administrator might not have current position informationfor the assets (which may, e.g., identify the current price and/or valueof the assets, the current quantity of the assets, and/or otherattributes of the assets), since they are held by another entity (e.g.,the trustee-custodian), and accordingly might not be able to accuratelytrade the assets that are held by the trustee-custodian, if at all. Forexample, any position information that the third-party administrator hasmay be outdated, for instance, if the trustee-custodian only providesstatements to the third-party administrator on a monthly basis, orsimply inaccurate, for instance, if the beneficiary has gone to thetrustee-custodian and initiated a liquidation without informing thethird-party administrator. These difficulties may be further complicatedwhen the assets to be held by the trustee-custodian include one or moremutual funds, which are relatively more complex that traditionalequities and exchange traded funds (ETFs) due to their fees, structures,and other characteristics. In addition, these difficulties also may befurther complicated when the third-party administrator provides omnibusprocessing for one or more employer-sponsored retirement plans, in whichall assets of all participants of a single retirement plan are held in asingle account by a trustee-custodian, and the third-party administratorallocates changes in value that result from activity and trading to thevarious participant sub-accounts administrated by the third-partyadministrator and held by the trustee-custodian.

Aspects of the disclosure overcome one or more these and other issues byutilizing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading, as illustrated in greater detail below. Inparticular, by implementing and/or utilizing one or more aspects of thedisclosure, a third-party administrator may be able to have anup-to-date, if not real-time, view of the assets held by atrustee-custodian on behalf of a beneficiary for which the third-partyadministrator trades. One or more of these features may enable thethird-party administrator to more accurately and confidently trade theassets held by the trustee-custodian, and further may enable thethird-party administrator to trade in complex mutual funds that are heldby the trustee-custodian, in addition to equities and ETFs, even thoughthe assets are held away by the trustee-custodian. In addition, ininstances in which the third-party administrator provides omnibusprocessing for a retirement plan in which assets are held by atrustee-custodian, some aspects of the disclosure enable the third-partyadministrator to provide a more accurate view of positions held byindividual participants in the retirement plan to such participants viewone or more client portal user interfaces, as the trade data, activitydata, and/or position data that may be included in and/or used ingenerating such client portal user interfaces may be updated morefrequently and/or on an on-demand basis.

Some aspects of the disclosure relate to deploying and implementingcentralized trading and tracking computing platforms to supporttri-party trading associated with a retirement group of a financialinstitution trading in mutual funds in which assets are held away by atrustee-custodian. In particular, in accordance with one or moreembodiments, a central trading computing platform having at least oneprocessor, a memory, and a communication interface may receive, via thecommunication interface, and from a retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with a financial institution,trade information defining one or more trades in one or more mutualfunds for one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution. Subsequently, the central trading computing platform mayvalidate the trade information defining the one or more trades in theone or more mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated bythe financial institution received from the retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with the financialinstitution. After validating the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution, the central trading computing platform may createorder information based on the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution. Thereafter, the central trading computingplatform may send, via the communication interface, and to a clearingentity computer system, the order information created based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution. In someinstances, the order information created based on the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for theone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution receivedfrom the retirement group accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution may be configured to cause theclearing entity computer system to settle the one or more trades in theone or more mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated bythe financial institution with a custodian different from the financialinstitution.

In some embodiments, the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may beconfigured to provide one or more retirement plan user interfaces to oneor more participants in an employer-sponsored retirement planadministered by the financial institution. In some instances, theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution may be configured to receive one or moreparticipant elections from the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution via the one or more retirement plan user interfaces providedto the one or more participants in the employer-sponsored retirementplan administered by the financial institution. In some instances, theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution may be configured to receive contributioninformation associated with one or more payroll contributions made bythe one or more participants in the employer-sponsored retirement planadministered by the financial institution to the employer-sponsoredretirement plan administered by the financial institution. In someinstances, the retirement group accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution may be configured to calculatethe one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution based on thecontribution information associated with the one or more payrollcontributions made by the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution to the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution.

In some instances, validating the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution may include accepting the one or more trades inthe one or more mutual funds for the one or more accounts administratedby the financial institution based on one or more processing rulesassociated with the one or more mutual funds and based on one or moreproduct rules associated with the one or more mutual funds.

In some instances, creating the order information based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may includeadding one or more indicators identifying the custodian different fromthe financial institution to the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution.

In some instances, the custodian may hold one or more assets of theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution in trust, such that the one or more assets of theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution are held away from the financial institution. In someinstances, the one or more assets of the employer-sponsored retirementplan administered by the financial institution may be held in a singlecombined account, and the central trading computing platform may provideomnibus processing for the financial institution by allocating the oneor more assets of the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution to the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution.

In some instances, the central trading computing platform may receive,via the communication interface, and from the clearing entity computersystem, activity-position information associated with the one or moremutual funds. Subsequently, the central trading computing platform maysend, via the communication interface, and to a central trackingcomputing platform associated with the financial institution, theactivity-position information associated with the one or more mutualfunds received from the clearing entity computer system.

In some instances, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to update billinginformation, supervision information, and reconciliation informationbased on the activity-position information associated with the one ormore mutual funds received from the clearing entity computer system. Insome instances, the central tracking computing platform associated withthe financial institution may be configured to allocate changesidentified in the activity-position information associated with the oneor more mutual funds received from the clearing entity computer systemto the one or more participants in the employer-sponsored retirementplan administered by the financial institution. In some instances, thecentral tracking computing platform associated with the financialinstitution may be configured to post the changes identified in theactivity-position information associated with the one or more mutualfunds received from the clearing entity computer system and allocated tothe one or more participants in the employer-sponsored retirement planadministered by the financial institution to a participant portalprovided by the retirement group accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution.

Some aspects of the disclosure relate to deploying and implementingcentralized trading and tracking computing platforms to supporttri-party trading associated with managed account advisors of afinancial institution and/or financial advisors of a financialinstitution trading with discretion in mutual funds in which assets areheld away by a trustee-custodian. In particular, in accordance with oneor more embodiments, a central trading computing platform having atleast one processor, a memory, and a communication interface mayreceive, via the communication interface, and from a discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system associated with afinancial institution, trade information defining one or more trades inone or more mutual funds for one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution. Subsequently, the central trading computingplatform may validate the trade information defining the one or moretrades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution. After validating the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financialinstitution, the central trading computing platform may create orderinformation based on the trade information defining the one or moretrades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution. Thereafter, the centraltrading computing platform may send, via the communication interface,and to a clearing entity computer system, the order information createdbased on the trade information defining the one or more trades in theone or more mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated bythe financial institution received from the discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with the financialinstitution. In some instances, the order information created based onthe trade information defining the one or more trades in the one or moremutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to cause the clearing entity computer system to settlethe one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution with acustodian different from the financial institution.

In some embodiments, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to provide one or more trading user interfaces to oneor more managed account advisors associated with the financialinstitution. In some instances, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to receive trade input specifying the one or moretrades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution via the one or more tradinguser interfaces provided to the one or more managed account advisorsassociated with the financial institution.

In some instances, the discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may beconfigured to provide one or more trading user interfaces to one or morefinancial advisors associated with the financial institution. In someinstances, the discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may beconfigured to receive trade input specifying the one or more trades inthe one or more mutual funds for the one or more accounts administratedby the financial institution via the one or more trading user interfacesprovided to the one or more financial advisors associated with thefinancial institution.

In some instances, validating the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution may include accepting the oneor more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution based on one or moreprocessing rules associated with the one or more mutual funds and basedon one or more product rules associated with the one or more mutualfunds.

In some instances, creating the order information based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay include adding one or more indicators identifying the custodiandifferent from the financial institution to the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for theone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution receivedfrom the discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution.

In some instances, the custodian may hold one or more assets of the oneor more accounts administrated by the financial institution in trust,such that the one or more assets of the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution are held away from thefinancial institution.

In some instances, the central trading computing platform may receive,via the communication interface, and from the clearing entity computersystem, activity-position information associated with the one or moremutual funds. Subsequently, the central trading computing platform maysend, via the communication interface, and to a central trackingcomputing platform associated with the financial institution, theactivity-position information associated with the one or more mutualfunds received from the clearing entity computer system.

In some instances, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to update billinginformation, supervision information, and reconciliation informationbased on the activity-position information associated with the one ormore mutual funds received from the clearing entity computer system. Insome instances, the central tracking computing platform associated withthe financial institution may be configured to allocate changesidentified in the activity-position information associated with the oneor more mutual funds received from the clearing entity computer systemto one or more accountholders associated with the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution. In some instances, thecentral tracking computing platform associated with the financialinstitution may be configured to post the changes identified in theactivity-position information associated with the one or more mutualfunds received from the clearing entity computer system and allocated tothe one or more accountholders associated with the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution to one or more tradingapplications provided by the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financialinstitution.

Some aspects of the disclosure relate to deploying and implementingcentralized trading and tracking computing platforms to supporttri-party trading associated with managed account advisors of afinancial institution and/or financial advisors of a financialinstitution trading with discretion in exchanged traded funds and/orequities in which assets are held away by a trustee-custodian. Inparticular, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a centraltrading computing platform having at least one processor, a memory, anda communication interface may receive, via the communication interface,and from a discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem associated with a financial institution, trade informationdefining one or more trades in one or more exchange traded funds orequity securities for one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution. Subsequently, the central trading computingplatform may validate the trade information defining the one or moretrades in the one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities forthe one or more accounts administrated by the financial institutionreceived from the discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution. Aftervalidating the trade information defining the one or more trades in theone or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution received fromthe discretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution, the central trading computingplatform may create order information based on the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more exchange traded fundsor equity securities for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution received from the discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with the financialinstitution. Thereafter, the central trading computing platform maysend, via the communication interface, and to a clearing entity computersystem, the order information created based on the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more exchange traded fundsor equity securities for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution received from the discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with the financialinstitution. In some instances, the order information created based onthe trade information defining the one or more trades in the one or moreexchange traded funds or equity securities for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution may be configured to cause theclearing entity computer system to settle the one or more trades in theone or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution with acustodian different from the financial institution.

In some embodiments, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to provide one or more trading user interfaces to oneor more managed account advisors associated with the financialinstitution. In some instances, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to receive trade input specifying the one or moretrades in the one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities forthe one or more accounts administrated by the financial institution viathe one or more trading user interfaces provided to the one or moremanaged account advisors associated with the financial institution.

In some instances, the discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may beconfigured to provide one or more trading user interfaces to one or morefinancial advisors associated with the financial institution. In someinstances, the discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may beconfigured to receive trade input specifying the one or more trades inthe one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for the oneor more accounts administrated by the financial institution via the oneor more trading user interfaces provided to the one or more financialadvisors associated with the financial institution.

In some instances, validating the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more exchange traded funds or equitysecurities for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay include accepting the one or more trades in the one or more exchangetraded funds or equity securities for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution based on one or moreprocessing rules associated with the one or more exchange traded fundsor equity securities.

In some instances, creating the order information based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more exchangetraded funds or equity securities for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution may include adding one or moreindicators identifying the custodian different from the financialinstitution to the trade information defining the one or more trades inthe one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for the oneor more accounts administrated by the financial institution receivedfrom the discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution.

In some instances, the custodian may hold one or more assets of the oneor more accounts administrated by the financial institution in trust,such that the one or more assets of the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution are held away from thefinancial institution.

In some instances, the central trading computing platform may receive,via the communication interface, and from a trustee computer systemassociated with the custodian different from the financial institution,activity-position information associated with the one or more exchangetraded funds or equity securities. Subsequently, the central tradingcomputing platform may send, via the communication interface, and to acentral tracking computing platform associated with the financialinstitution, the activity-position information associated with the oneor more exchange traded funds or equity securities received from thetrustee computer system associated with the custodian different from thefinancial institution.

In some instances, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to update billinginformation, supervision information, and reconciliation informationbased on the activity-position information associated with the one ormore exchange traded funds or equity securities received from thetrustee computer system associated with the custodian different from thefinancial institution. In some instances, the central tracking computingplatform associated with the financial institution may be configured toallocate changes identified in the activity-position informationassociated with the one or more exchange traded funds or equitysecurities received from the trustee computer system associated with thecustodian different from the financial institution to one or moreaccountholders associated with the one or more accounts administrated bythe financial institution. In some instances, the central trackingcomputing platform associated with the financial institution may beconfigured to post the changes identified in the activity-positioninformation associated with the one or more exchange traded funds orequity securities received from the trustee computer system associatedwith the custodian different from the financial institution andallocated to the one or more accountholders associated with the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution to one or moretrading applications provided by the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financialinstitution.

These features, along with many others, are discussed in greater detailbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not limitedin the accompanying figures in which like reference numerals indicatesimilar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative operating environment in which variousaspects of the disclosure may be implemented in accordance with one ormore example embodiments;

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative block diagram of workstations and serversthat may be used to implement the processes and functions of certainaspects of the present disclosure in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments;

FIG. 3A-3C depict an illustrative computing environment for deployingand implementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments;

FIGS. 4A-4K depict an illustrative event sequence for deploying andimplementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments;

FIGS. 5A-5J depict another illustrative event sequence for deploying andimplementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments;

FIGS. 6A-6H depict another illustrative event sequence for deploying andimplementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments;

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative method for deploying and implementingcentralized trading and tracking computing platforms to supporttri-party trading in accordance with one or more example embodiments;

FIG. 8 depicts another illustrative method for deploying andimplementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments; and

FIG. 9 depicts another illustrative method for deploying andimplementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description of various illustrative embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a parthereof, and in which is shown, by way of illustration, variousembodiments in which aspects of the disclosure may be practiced. It isto be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and structuraland functional modifications may be made, without departing from thescope of the present disclosure.

It is noted that various connections between elements are discussed inthe following description. It is noted that these connections aregeneral and, unless specified otherwise, may be direct or indirect,wired or wireless, and that the specification is not intended to belimiting in this respect.

FIG. 1 depicts an illustrative operating environment in which variousaspects of the present disclosure may be implemented in accordance withone or more example embodiments. Referring to FIG. 1, computing systemenvironment 100 may be used according to one or more illustrativeembodiments. Computing system environment 100 is only one example of asuitable computing environment and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality contained in thedisclosure. Computing system environment 100 should not be interpretedas having any dependency or requirement relating to any one orcombination of components shown in illustrative computing systemenvironment 100.

Computing system environment 100 may include computing device 101 havingprocessor 103 for controlling overall operation of computing device 101and its associated components, including random-access memory (RAM) 105,read-only memory (ROM) 107, communications module 109, and memory 115.Computing device 101 may include a variety of computer readable media.Computer readable media may be any available media that may be accessedby computing device 101, may be non-transitory, and may include volatileand nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in anymethod or technology for storage of information such ascomputer-readable instructions, object code, data structures, programmodules, or other data. Examples of computer readable media may includerandom access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), electronicallyerasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM), flash memory or othermemory technology, compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), digitalversatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes,magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices,or any other medium that can be used to store the desired informationand that can be accessed by computing device 101.

Although not required, various aspects described herein may be embodiedas a method, a data processing system, or as a computer-readable mediumstoring computer-executable instructions. For example, acomputer-readable medium storing instructions to cause a processor toperform steps of a method in accordance with aspects of the disclosedembodiments is contemplated. For example, aspects of the method stepsdisclosed herein may be executed on a processor on computing device 101.Such a processor may execute computer-executable instructions stored ona computer-readable medium.

Software may be stored within memory 115 and/or storage to provideinstructions to processor 103 for enabling computing device 101 toperform various functions. For example, memory 115 may store softwareused by computing device 101, such as operating system 117, applicationprograms 119, and associated database 121. Also, some or all of thecomputer executable instructions for computing device 101 may beembodied in hardware or firmware. Although not shown, RAM 105 mayinclude one or more applications representing the application datastored in RAM 105 while computing device 101 is on and correspondingsoftware applications (e.g., software tasks) are running on computingdevice 101.

Communications module 109 may include a microphone, keypad, touchscreen, and/or stylus through which a user of computing device 101 mayprovide input, and may also include one or more of a speaker forproviding audio output and a video display device for providing textual,audiovisual and/or graphical output. Computing system environment 100may also include optical scanners (not shown). Exemplary usages includescanning and converting paper documents, e.g., correspondence, receipts,and the like, to digital files.

Computing device 101 may operate in a networked environment supportingconnections to one or more remote computing devices, such as computingdevices 141, 151, and 161. Computing devices 141, 151, and 161 may bepersonal computing devices or servers that include any or all of theelements described above relative to computing device 101. Computingdevice 161 may be a mobile device (e.g., smart phone) communicating overwireless carrier channel 171.

The network connections depicted in FIG. 1 may include local areanetwork (LAN) 125 and wide area network (WAN) 129, as well as othernetworks. When used in a LAN networking environment, computing device101 may be connected to LAN 125 through a network interface or adapterin communications module 109. When used in a WAN networking environment,computing device 101 may include a modem in communications module 109 orother means for establishing communications over WAN 129, such asInternet 131 or other type of computer network. The network connectionsshown are illustrative and other means of establishing a communicationslink between the computing devices may be used. Various well-knownprotocols such as transmission control protocol/Internet protocol(TCP/IP), Ethernet, file transfer protocol (FTP), hypertext transferprotocol (HTTP) and the like may be used, and the system can be operatedin a client-server configuration to permit a user to retrieve web pagesfrom a web-based server. Any of various conventional web browsers can beused to display and manipulate data on web pages.

The disclosure is operational with numerous other computing systemenvironments or configurations. Examples of well-known computingsystems, environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable foruse with the disclosed embodiments include, but are not limited to,personal computers (PCs), server computers, hand-held or laptop devices,smart phones, multiprocessor systems, microprocessor-based systems, settop boxes, programmable consumer electronics, network PCs,minicomputers, mainframe computers, distributed computing environmentsthat include any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

FIG. 2 depicts an illustrative block diagram of workstations and serversthat may be used to implement the processes and functions of certainaspects of the present disclosure in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments. Referring to FIG. 2, illustrative system 200 may be usedfor implementing example embodiments according to the presentdisclosure. As illustrated, system 200 may include one or moreworkstation computers 201. Workstation 201 may be, for example, adesktop computer, a smartphone, a wireless device, a tablet computer, alaptop computer, and the like. Workstations 201 may be local or remote,and may be connected by one of communications links 202 to computernetwork 203 that is linked via communications link 205 to server 204. Insystem 200, server 204 may be any suitable server, processor, computer,or data processing device, or combination of the same. Server 204 may beused to process the instructions received from, and the transactionsentered into by, one or more participants.

Computer network 203 may be any suitable computer network including theInternet, an intranet, a wide-area network (WAN), a local-area network(LAN), a wireless network, a digital subscriber line (DSL) network, aframe relay network, an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, avirtual private network (VPN), or any combination of any of the same.Communications links 202 and 205 may be any communications linkssuitable for communicating between workstations 201 and server 204, suchas network links, dial-up links, wireless links, hard-wired links, aswell as network types developed in the future, and the like.

FIG. 3A-3C depict an illustrative computing environment for deployingand implementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments. Referring to FIG. 3A, computing environment 300 may includeone or more computing devices. For example, computing environment 300may include a discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem 330, a retirement group accounts administration computer system335, a trustee computer system 340, a clearing entity computer system345, and a fund computer system 350. Discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system 330 may be used by and/or may beconfigured to be used by one or more managed account advisors and/or oneor more financial advisors who may be associated with a financialinstitution. In some instances, discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system 330 may execute one or more applicationsthat cause discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem 330 to provide one or more trading user interfaces via whichdiscretionary and managed accounts administration computer system 330may receive input defining one or more trades from one or more users ofdiscretionary and managed accounts administration computer system 330.Retirement group accounts administration computer system 335 may be usedby and/or may be configured to be used by one or more retirement groupmanagers and/or associated who may be associated with a financialinstitution and/or who may manage one or more retirement plans, such asone or more 401k's and/or one or more other employer-sponsoredretirement plans for one or more customers of the financial institutionand/or one or more participants in such plans. In some instances,retirement group accounts administration computer system 335 may executeone or more applications that cause retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335 to provide one or more participantportal user interfaces via which retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335 may receive input defining one ormore elections and/or contributions from one or more participants in oneor more retirement plans. Additionally or alternatively, retirementgroup accounts administration computer system 335 may execute one ormore applications that cause retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system 335 to provide one or more trading user interfaces viawhich retirement group accounts administration computer system 335 mayreceive input defining one or more trades from one or more users ofretirement group accounts administration computer system 335.

In some instances, trustee computer system 340 may be used by and/orassociated with a trustee-custodian which may hold (e.g., maintainownership of and/or otherwise hold title to) one or more assets that maybe traded (e.g., bought, sold, and/or otherwise traded in) by thefinancial institution operating retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system 335 and/or discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system 330. In some instances, clearing entitycomputer system 345 may be used by and/or associated with a clearingentity which may execute and/or settle one or more trades in one or moreassets, such as equity securities, exchange traded funds, mutual funds,and/or other types of assets. In some instances, fund computer system350 may be used by and/or associated with a mutual fund company whichmay create, sell, and/or manage one or more mutual funds (which may,e.g., be traded by the financial institution operating retirement groupaccounts administration computer system 335 and/or discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330 and/or which may beheld by the trustee-custodian operating trustee computer system 340).

In one or more arrangements, discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system 330, retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335, trustee computer system 340,clearing entity computer system 345, and fund computer system 350 may beany type of computing device capable of receiving a user interface,receiving input via the user interface, and communicating the receivedinput to one or more other computing devices. For example, discretionaryand managed accounts administration computer system 330, retirementgroup accounts administration computer system 335, trustee computersystem 340, clearing entity computer system 345, and fund computersystem 350 may, in some instances, be and/or include server computers,desktop computers, laptop computers, tablet computers, smart phones, orthe like. As noted above, and as illustrated in greater detail below,any and/or all of discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330, retirement group accounts administration computersystem 335, trustee computer system 340, clearing entity computer system345, and fund computer system 350 may, in some instances, bespecial-purpose computing devices configured to perform specificfunctions.

Computing environment 300 also may include one or more computingplatforms. For example, computing environment 300 may include centraltrading computing platform 310 and central tracking computing platform320. As illustrated in greater detail below, central trading computingplatform 310 and central tracking computing platform 320 may include oneor more computing devices configured to perform one or more of thefunctions described herein. For example, central trading computingplatform 310 and central tracking computing platform 320 each mayinclude one or more computers (e.g., laptop computers, desktopcomputers, servers, server blades, or the like).

Computing environment 300 also may include one or more networks, whichmay interconnect one or more of central trading computing platform 310,central tracking computing platform 320, discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system 330, retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335, trustee computer system 340,clearing entity computer system 345, and fund computer system 350. Forexample, computing environment 300 may include organization network 360and public network 370. Organization network 360 and/or public network370 may include one or more sub-networks (e.g., LANs, WANs, or thelike). Organization network 360 may be associated with a particularorganization (e.g., a corporation, financial institution, educationalinstitution, governmental institution, or the like) and may interconnectone or more computing devices associated with the organization. Forexample, central trading computing platform 310, central trackingcomputing platform 320, discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system 330, and retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335 may be associated with anorganization (e.g., a financial institution), and organization network360 may be associated with and/or operated by the organization, and mayinclude one or more networks (e.g., LANs, WANs, VPNs, or the like) thatinterconnect central trading computing platform 310, central trackingcomputing platform 320, discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system 330, and retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335 and one or more other computingdevices and/or computer systems that are used by, operated by, and/orotherwise associated with the organization. Public network 370 mayconnect organization network 360 and/or one or more computing devicesconnected thereto (e.g., central trading computing platform 310, centraltracking computing platform 320, discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system 330, and retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335) with one or more networks and/orcomputing devices that are not associated with the organization. Forexample, trustee computer system 340, clearing entity computer system345, and fund computer system 350 might not be associated with anorganization that operates organization network 360 (e.g., becausetrustee computer system 340, clearing entity computer system 345, andfund computer system 350 may be owned and/or operated by one or moreentities different from the organization that operates organizationnetwork 360, such as one or more customers of the organization, ratherthan being owned and/or operated by the organization itself or anemployee or affiliate of the organization), and public network 370 mayinclude one or more networks (e.g., the internet) that connect trusteecomputer system 340, clearing entity computer system 345, and fundcomputer system 350 to organization network 360 and/or one or morecomputing devices connected thereto (e.g., central trading computingplatform 310, central tracking computing platform 320, discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330, and retirementgroup accounts administration computer system 335).

Referring to FIG. 3B, central trading computing platform 310 may includeone or more processors 311, memory 312, and communication interface 315.A data bus may interconnect processor(s) 311, memory 312, andcommunication interface 315. Communication interface 315 may be anetwork interface configured to support communication between centraltrading computing platform 310 and one or more networks (e.g.,organization network 360, public network 370, or the like). Memory 312may include one or more program modules having instructions that whenexecuted by processor(s) 311 cause central trading computing platform310 to perform one or more functions described herein and/or one or moredatabases that may store and/or otherwise maintain information which maybe used by such program modules and/or processor(s) 311. In someinstances, the one or more program modules and/or databases may bestored by and/or maintained in different memory units of central tradingcomputing platform 310 and/or by different computer systems that mayform and/or otherwise make up central trading computing platform 310.For example, memory 312 may include a trading module 313 and a tradingdatabase 314. Trading module 313 may provide and/or perform one or morefunctions that may enable trading of one or more assets by a financialinstitution, such as generating and/or presenting one or more graphicaluser interfaces that include trading information and/or via whichtrading input may be received. Trading database 314 may store tradinginformation that may be created and/or used by central trading computingplatform 310 in performing one or more functions.

Referring to FIG. 3C, central tracking computing platform 320 mayinclude one or more processors 321, memory 322, and communicationinterface 327. Communication interface 327 may be a network interfaceconfigured to support communication between central tracking computingplatform 320 and one or more networks (e.g., organization network 360,public network 370, or the like). Memory 322 may include one or moreprogram modules having instructions that when executed by processor(s)321 cause central tracking computing platform 320 to perform one or morefunctions described herein and/or one or more databases that may storeand/or otherwise maintain information which may be used by such programmodules and/or processor(s) 321. In some instances, the one or moreprogram modules and/or databases may be stored by and/or maintained indifferent memory units of central tracking computing platform 320 and/orby different computer systems that may form and/or otherwise make upcentral tracking computing platform 320. For example, memory 322 mayinclude a billing module 323, a supervision module 324, a reconciliationmodule 325, and a tracking database 326. Billing module 323 may provideand/or perform one or more billing functions associated with a financialinstitution's trading activities on behalf of one or more clients.Supervision module 324 may provide and/or perform one or moresupervision functions associated with the financial institution'strading activities on behalf of one or more clients. Reconciliationmodule 325 may provide and/or perform one or more reconciliationfunctions associated with the financial institution's trading activitieson behalf of one or more clients. Tracking database 326 may store tradetracking information that may be created and/or used by central trackingcomputing platform 320 in performing one or more functions, includingone or more billing functions, supervision functions, reconciliationfunctions, and/or other functions. As illustrated in greater detailbelow, because central tracking computing platform 320 may receiveactivity-position position information from trustee computer system 340and/or clearing entity computer system 345 for one or more assets thatare held away from the financial institution operating central trackingcomputing platform 320, central tracking computing platform 320 maynevertheless provide such billing functions, supervision functions,reconciliation functions, and/or other functions with respect to suchassets (which may, e.g., be traded by the financial institutionoperating central tracking computing platform 320 even though they areheld by a trustee-custodian different from the financial institutionoperating central tracking computing platform 320).

FIGS. 4A-4K depict an illustrative event sequence for deploying andimplementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments. Referring to FIG. 4A, at step 401, retirement groupaccounts administration computer system 335 may provide a participantportal (which may, e.g., include one or more participant user interfacesvia which one or more participants in an employer-sponsored retirementplan or other retirement plan may make elections on investment choicesand/or view and/or modify other information associated with theretirement plan). In some instances, the participant portal may be awebsite, and in providing the participant portal, retirement groupaccounts administration computer system 335 may generate, serve, and/orotherwise provide one or more pages of the participant portal website.At step 402, retirement group accounts administration computer system335 may receive one or more participant elections via the participantportal. For example, at step 402, retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335 may receive input specifyingparticular investment elections for a particular participant from theparticipant.

At step 403, retirement group accounts administration computer system335 may receive contribution information (which may, e.g., identify oneor more monetary contributions made by one or more participants to anemployer-sponsored retirement or other retirement plan, for instance, aspart of a payroll cycle). At step 404, retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335 may calculate one or more tradesbased on the contribution information and/or based on the participantelections (e.g., to determine how the monetary contributions should beinvested for different participants based on their individual electionsand based on the monetary amount that they have contributed to theretirement plan, for instance, during the particular payroll cycle). Insome instances, retirement group accounts administration computer system335 may calculate the one or more trades using one or more investmentformulas and/or investment allocation algorithms that may use one ormore proportions and/or other rules to determine the trades to be madefor different participants based on their individual elections and basedon the monetary amount that they have contributed to the retirementplan, for instance, during the particular payroll cycle. Referring toFIG. 4B, at step 405, retirement group accounts administration computersystem 335 may send trade information (e.g., identifying the one or moretrades calculated at step 404) to central trading computing platform310.

At step 406, central trading computing platform 310 may receive thetrade information from retirement group accounts administration computersystem 335. For example, at step 406, central trading computing platform310 may receive, via the communication interface (e.g., communicationinterface 315), and from a retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with a financial institution (e.g.,retirement group accounts administration computer system 335), tradeinformation defining one or more trades in one or more mutual funds forone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution.

In some embodiments, the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may beconfigured to provide one or more retirement plan user interfaces to oneor more participants in an employer-sponsored retirement planadministered by the financial institution. For example, the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution (e.g., retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system 335) may be configured to provide one or more retirementplan user interfaces to one or more participants in anemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution.

In some embodiments, the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may beconfigured to receive one or more participant elections from the one ormore participants in the employer-sponsored retirement plan administeredby the financial institution via the one or more retirement plan userinterfaces provided to the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution. For example, the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution (e.g.,retirement group accounts administration computer system 335) may beconfigured to receive one or more participant elections from the one ormore participants in the employer-sponsored retirement plan administeredby the financial institution via the one or more retirement plan userinterfaces provided to the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution.

In some embodiments, the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may beconfigured to receive contribution information associated with one ormore payroll contributions made by the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution to the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution. For example, the retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institution(e.g., retirement group accounts administration computer system 335) maybe configured to receive contribution information associated with one ormore payroll contributions made by the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution to the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution.

In some embodiments, the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may beconfigured to calculate the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution based on the contribution information associated with theone or more payroll contributions made by the one or more participantsin the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution to the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution. For example, the retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institution(e.g., retirement group accounts administration computer system 335) maybe configured to calculate the one or more trades in the one or moremutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution based on the contribution information associated with theone or more payroll contributions made by the one or more participantsin the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution to the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution.

At step 407, central trading computing platform 310 may validate thetrade information received from retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system 335. For example, at step 407, central trading computingplatform 310 may validate the trade information defining the one or moretrades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution (e.g., retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system 335).

In some embodiments, validating the trade information defining the oneor more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution may include accepting the one or more tradesin the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution based on one or moreprocessing rules associated with the one or more mutual funds and basedon one or more product rules associated with the one or more mutualfunds. For example, in validating the trade information defining the oneor more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution (e.g., retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335), central trading computing platform310 may accept the one or more trades in the one or more mutual fundsfor the one or more accounts administrated by the financial institutionbased on one or more processing rules associated with the one or moremutual funds and based on one or more product rules associated with theone or more mutual funds. Such processing rules and/or product rulesmay, for instance, be stored and/or otherwise maintained by centraltrading computing platform 310 in trading database 314.

At step 408, central trading computing platform 310 may create orderinformation (e.g., identifying one or more orders to be executed inaccordance with the trade information) based on the trade informationreceived from retirement group accounts administration computer system335. For example, after validating the trade information defining theone or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution (e.g., retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335), central trading computing platform310 may create order information based on the trade information definingthe one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution received fromthe retirement group accounts administration computer system associatedwith the financial institution (e.g., retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335).

In some embodiments, creating the order information based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution may includeadding one or more indicators identifying the custodian different fromthe financial institution to the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution. For example, in creating the order informationbased on the trade information defining the one or more trades in theone or more mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated bythe financial institution received from the retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institution(e.g., retirement group accounts administration computer system 335),central trading computing platform 310 may add one or more indicatorsidentifying the custodian different from the financial institution tothe trade information defining the one or more trades in the one or moremutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution (e.g.,retirement group accounts administration computer system 335). Suchindicators may, for instance, enable and/or cause the trades to besettled with the custodian operating trustee computer system 340 insteadof with the financial institution operating central trading computingplatform 310.

Referring to FIG. 4C, at step 409, central trading computing platform310 may send the order information to clearing entity computer system345. For example, at step 409, central trading computing platform 310may send, via the communication interface (e.g., communication interface315), and to a clearing entity computer system (e.g., clearing entitycomputer system 345), the order information created based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution (e.g.,retirement group accounts administration computer system 335). Inaddition, the order information created based on the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for theone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution receivedfrom the retirement group accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution may be configured to cause theclearing entity computer system to settle the one or more trades in theone or more mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated bythe financial institution with a custodian different from the financialinstitution. For example, the order information created by centraltrading computing platform 310 based on the trade information definingthe one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution received fromthe retirement group accounts administration computer system associatedwith the financial institution (e.g., retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335) may be configured to cause theclearing entity computer system (e.g., clearing entity computer system345) to settle the one or more trades in the one or more mutual fundsfor the one or more accounts administrated by the financial institutionwith a custodian different from the financial institution.

In some embodiments, the custodian may hold one or more assets of theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution in trust, such that the one or more assets of theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution are held away from the financial institution. In addition,in some instances, the one or more assets of the employer-sponsoredretirement plan administered by the financial institution may be held ina single combined account, and the computer system may provide omnibusprocessing for the financial institution by allocating the one or moreassets of the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered by thefinancial institution to the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution. For example, central trading computing platform 310 mayprovide omnibus processing for the financial institution by allocatingthe one or more assets of the employer-sponsored retirement planadministered by the financial institution to the one or moreparticipants in the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution, as illustrated in greater detail below.

At step 410, central trading computing platform 310 may send extendedorder information to central tracking computing platform 320. At step411, clearing entity computer system 345 may receive the orderinformation from central trading computing platform 310. At step 412,clearing entity computer system 345 may create order request information(e.g., identifying one or more shares of one or more mutual funds to bepurchased, sold, or otherwise processed in accordance with the orderinformation) based on the order information received from centraltrading computing platform 310.

Referring to FIG. 4D, at step 413, clearing entity computer system 345may send the order request information to fund computer system 350. Atstep 414, clearing entity computer system 345 may send the order requestinformation to trustee computer system 340. At step 415, fund computersystem 350 may receive the order request information from clearingentity computer system 345. At step 416, fund computer system 350 mayprocess the order request information.

Referring to FIG. 4E, at step 417, fund computer system 350 may createconfirmation information (e.g., confirming and/or otherwise indicatingthat one or more shares of one or more mutual funds have been purchased,sold, or otherwise processed in accordance with the order requestinformation). At step 418, fund computer system 350 may send theconfirmation information to clearing entity computer system 345. At step419, clearing entity computer system 345 may receive the confirmationinformation from fund computer system 350. At step 420, clearing entitycomputer system 345 may send the confirmation information to trusteecomputer system 340.

Referring to FIG. 4F, at step 421, clearing entity computer system 345may send the confirmation information to central trading computingplatform 310. At step 422, central trading computing platform 310 mayreceive the confirmation information from clearing entity computersystem 345. At step 423, central trading computing platform 310 may sendthe confirmation information to central tracking computing platform 320.At step 424, central tracking computing platform 320 may receive theconfirmation information from central trading computing platform 310.

Referring to FIG. 4G, at step 425, central tracking computing platform320 may update one or more records based on the confirmation informationreceived from central trading computing platform 310. At step 426,central tracking computing platform 320 may allocate one or more ordersto individual participants in the retirement plan (e.g., by creatingand/or updating records identifying particular participants as owningand/or having the rights to particular assets that were purchased, sold,or otherwise affected by the orders that were processed and/or executed,for instance, by clearing entity computer system 345). At step 427,clearing entity computer system 345 may create settlement information(which may, e.g., include information that enables settlement betweenthe parties by facilitating the transfer of the assets that werepurchased, for instance, from an entity operating fund computer system350 to the trustee-custodian operating trustee computer system 340and/or by facilitating the transfer of funds from the trustee-custodianoperating trustee computer system 340 to the entity operating fundcomputer system 350 for the assets that were purchased). At step 428,clearing entity computer system 345 may send the settlement informationto fund computer system 350.

Referring to FIG. 4H, at step 429, clearing entity computer system 345may send the settlement information to trustee computer system 340. Atstep 430, fund computer system 350 may send activity-positioninformation (e.g., identifying changes in one or more positions of oneor more mutual funds created and/or maintained by the entity operatingfund computer system 350) to clearing entity computer system 345. Atstep 431, clearing entity computer system 345 may receive theactivity-position information from fund computer system 350. At step432, clearing entity computer system 345 may send the activity-positioninformation to trustee computer system 340.

Referring to FIG. 4I, at step 433, clearing entity computer system 345may send the activity-position information to central trading computingplatform 310. At step 434, central trading computing platform 310 mayreceive the activity-position information from clearing entity computersystem 345. For example, at step 434, central trading computing platform310 may receive, via the communication interface (e.g., communicationinterface 315), and from the clearing entity computer system (e.g.,clearing entity computer system 345), activity-position informationassociated with the one or more mutual funds. At step 435, centraltrading computing platform 310 may send the activity-positioninformation to central tracking computing platform 320. For example, atstep 435, central trading computing platform 310 may send, via thecommunication interface (e.g., communication interface 315), and to acentral tracking computing platform associated with the financialinstitution (e.g., central tracking computing platform 320), theactivity-position information associated with the one or more mutualfunds received from the clearing entity computer system (e.g., clearingentity computer system 345).

In some embodiments, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to update billinginformation, supervision information, and reconciliation informationbased on the activity-position information associated with the one ormore mutual funds received from the clearing entity computer system. Forexample, the central tracking computing platform associated with thefinancial institution (e.g., central tracking computing platform 320)may be configured to update billing information, supervisioninformation, and reconciliation information based on theactivity-position information associated with the one or more mutualfunds received from the clearing entity computer system (e.g., clearingentity computer system 345).

In some embodiments, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to allocate changesidentified in the activity-position information associated with the oneor more mutual funds received from the clearing entity computer systemto the one or more participants in the employer-sponsored retirementplan administered by the financial institution. For example, the centraltracking computing platform associated with the financial institution(e.g., central tracking computing platform 320) may be configured toallocate changes identified in the activity-position informationassociated with the one or more mutual funds received from the clearingentity computer system (e.g., clearing entity computer system 345) tothe one or more participants in the employer-sponsored retirement planadministered by the financial institution.

In some embodiments, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to post the changesidentified in the activity-position information associated with the oneor more mutual funds received from the clearing entity computer systemand allocated to the one or more participants in the employer-sponsoredretirement plan administered by the financial institution to aparticipant portal provided by the retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with the financialinstitution. For example, the central tracking computing platformassociated with the financial institution (e.g., central trackingcomputing platform 320) may be configured to post the changes identifiedin the activity-position information associated with the one or moremutual funds received from the clearing entity computer system (e.g.,clearing entity computer system 345) and allocated to the one or moreparticipants in the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution to a participant portal provided by theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution (e.g., retirement group accountsadministration computer system 335).

At step 436, central tracking computing platform 320 may receive theactivity-position information from central trading computing platform310. Referring to FIG. 4J, at step 437, central tracking computingplatform 320 may update one or more records based on theactivity-position information received from central trading computingplatform 310. At step 438, central tracking computing platform 320 mayallocate one or more changes in positions identified in theactivity-position information to individual participants in theretirement plan (e.g., by creating and/or updating records identifyingparticular participants as owning and/or having the rights to particularassets that have changed in position as identified in theactivity-position information). At step 439, central tracking computingplatform 320 may post the one or more changes to the participant portal.At step 440, central tracking computing platform 320 may send the one ormore changes to retirement group accounts administration computer system335 (e.g., to facilitate updates to the participant portal provided byretirement group accounts administration computer system 335). Referringto FIG. 4K, at step 441, retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system 335 may provide an updated participant portal (e.g., toone or more participants in a retirement plan).

FIGS. 5A-5J depict another illustrative event sequence for deploying andimplementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments. Referring to FIG. 5A, at step 501, discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330 may provide atrading interface (which may, e.g., include one or more trading userinterfaces via which one or more managed account advisors of a financialinstitution and/or one or more financial advisors of a financialinstitution trading with discretion may create, initiate, and/or cancelone or more trades in one or more assets and/or view and/or modify otherinformation associated with trading operations associated with thefinancial institution). In some instances, the trading interface may bea website, and in providing the trading interface, discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330 may generate, serve,and/or otherwise provide one or more pages of the trading interfacewebsite. At step 502, discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330 may receive trade input. For example, at step 502,discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system 330may receive input specifying particular trades for particular accountsmaintained by the financial institution. At step 503, discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330 may send tradeinformation (e.g., identifying one or more trades corresponding to thetrade input received at step 502) to central trading computing platform310.

At step 504, central trading computing platform 310 may receive thetrade information from discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330. For example, at step 504, central trading computingplatform 310 may receive, via the communication interface (e.g.,communication interface 315), and from a discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with a financialinstitution (e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330), trade information defining one or more trades inone or more mutual funds for one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution.

In some embodiments, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to provide one or more trading user interfaces to oneor more managed account advisors associated with the financialinstitution. For example, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institution(e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system330) may be configured to provide one or more trading user interfaces toone or more managed account advisors associated with the financialinstitution.

In some embodiments, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to receive trade input specifying the one or moretrades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution via the one or more tradinguser interfaces provided to the one or more managed account advisorsassociated with the financial institution. For example, thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330) may be configuredto receive trade input specifying the one or more trades in the one ormore mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution via the one or more trading user interfacesprovided to the one or more managed account advisors associated with thefinancial institution.

In some embodiments, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to provide one or more trading user interfaces to oneor more financial advisors associated with the financial institution.For example, the discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution (e.g.,discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system 330)may be configured to provide one or more trading user interfaces to oneor more financial advisors associated with the financial institution.

In some embodiments, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to receive trade input specifying the one or moretrades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution via the one or more tradinguser interfaces provided to the one or more financial advisorsassociated with the financial institution. For example, thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330) may be configuredto receive trade input specifying the one or more trades in the one ormore mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution via the one or more trading user interfacesprovided to the one or more financial advisors associated with thefinancial institution.

Referring to FIG. 5B, at step 505, central trading computing platform310 may validate the trade information received from discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330. For example, atstep 505, central trading computing platform 310 may validate the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institution(e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system330).

In some embodiments, validating the trade information defining the oneor more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution may include accepting the oneor more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution based on one or moreprocessing rules associated with the one or more mutual funds and basedon one or more product rules associated with the one or more mutualfunds. For example, in validating the trade information defining the oneor more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330), central tradingcomputing platform 310 may accept the one or more trades in the one ormore mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution based on one or more processing rules associatedwith the one or more mutual funds and based on one or more product rulesassociated with the one or more mutual funds. Such processing rulesand/or product rules may, for instance, be stored and/or otherwisemaintained by central trading computing platform 310 in trading database314.

At step 506, central trading computing platform 310 may create orderinformation (e.g., identifying one or more orders to be executed inaccordance with the trade information) based on the trade informationreceived from discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem 330. For example, after validating the trade information definingthe one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution received fromthe discretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330), central tradingcomputing platform 310 may create order information based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institution(e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system330).

In some embodiments, creating the order information based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay include adding one or more indicators identifying the custodiandifferent from the financial institution to the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for theone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution receivedfrom the discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution. For example, increating the order information based on the trade information definingthe one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution received fromthe discretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330), central tradingcomputing platform 310 may add one or more indicators identifying thecustodian different from the financial institution to the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institution(e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system330). Such indicators may, for instance, enable and/or cause the tradesto be settled with the custodian operating trustee computer system 340instead of with the financial institution operating central tradingcomputing platform 310.

At step 507, central trading computing platform 310 may send the orderinformation to clearing entity computer system 345. For example, at step507, central trading computing platform 310 may send, via thecommunication interface (e.g., communication interface 315), and to aclearing entity computer system (e.g., clearing entity computer system345), the order information created based on the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for theone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution receivedfrom the discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionaryand managed accounts administration computer system 330). In addition,the order information created based on the trade information definingthe one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution received fromthe discretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution may be configured to cause theclearing entity computer system to settle the one or more trades in theone or more mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated bythe financial institution with a custodian different from the financialinstitution. For example, the order information created by centraltrading computing platform 310 based on the trade information definingthe one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution received fromthe discretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330) may be configuredto cause the clearing entity computer system (e.g., clearing entitycomputer system 345) to settle the one or more trades in the one or moremutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution with a custodian different from the financial institution.In some embodiments, the custodian may hold one or more assets of theone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution intrust, such that the one or more assets of the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution are held away from thefinancial institution.

At step 508, central trading computing platform 310 may send extendedorder information to central tracking computing platform 320. Referringto FIG. 5C, at step 509, clearing entity computer system 345 may receivethe order information from central trading computing platform 310. Atstep 510, clearing entity computer system 345 may create order requestinformation (e.g., identifying one or more shares of one or more mutualfunds to be purchased, sold, or otherwise processed in accordance withthe order information) based on the order information received fromcentral trading computing platform 310. At step 511, clearing entitycomputer system 345 may send the order request information to fundcomputer system 350. At step 512, clearing entity computer system 345may send the order request information to trustee computer system 340.

Referring to FIG. 5D, at step 513, fund computer system 350 may receivethe order request information from clearing entity computer system 345.At step 514, fund computer system 350 may process the order requestinformation. At step 515, fund computer system 350 may create orderconfirmation information (e.g., confirming and/or otherwise indicatingthat one or more shares of one or more mutual funds have been purchased,sold, or otherwise processed in accordance with the order requestinformation). At step 516, fund computer system 350 may send the orderconfirmation information to clearing entity computer system 345.

Referring to FIG. 5E, at step 517, clearing entity computer system 345may receive the order confirmation information from fund computer system350. At step 518, clearing entity computer system 345 may send the orderconfirmation information to trustee computer system 340. At step 519,clearing entity computer system 345 may send the order confirmationinformation to central trading computing platform 310. At step 520,central trading computing platform 310 may receive the orderconfirmation information from clearing entity computer system 345.

Referring to FIG. 5F, at step 521, central trading computing platform310 may send the order confirmation information to central trackingcomputing platform 320. At step 522, central tracking computing platform320 may receive the order confirmation information from central tradingcomputing platform 310. At step 523, central tracking computing platform320 may update one or more records based on the order confirmationinformation. At step 524, central tracking computing platform 320 mayallocate one or more orders to one or more individual accountholders(e.g., by creating and/or updating records identifying particularaccountholders as owning and/or having the rights to particular assetsthat were purchased, sold, or otherwise affected by the orders that wereprocessed and/or executed, for instance, by clearing entity computersystem 345).

Referring to FIG. 5G, at step 525, clearing entity computer system 345may create settlement information (which may, e.g., include informationthat enables settlement between the parties by facilitating the transferof the assets that were purchased, for instance, from an entityoperating fund computer system 350 to the trustee-custodian operatingtrustee computer system 340 and/or by facilitating the transfer of fundsfrom the trustee-custodian operating trustee computer system 340 to theentity operating fund computer system 350 for the assets that werepurchased). At step 526, clearing entity computer system 345 may sendthe settlement information to fund computer system 350. At step 527,clearing entity computer system 345 may send the settlement informationto trustee computer system 340. At step 528, fund computer system 350may send activity-position information (e.g., identifying changes in oneor more positions of one or more mutual funds created and/or maintainedby the entity operating fund computer system 350) to clearing entitycomputer system 345.

Referring to FIG. 5H, at step 529, clearing entity computer system 345may receive the activity-position information from fund computer system350. At step 530, clearing entity computer system 345 may send theactivity-position information to trustee computer system 340. At step531, clearing entity computer system 345 may send the activity-positioninformation to central trading computing platform 310. At step 532,central trading computing platform 310 may receive the activity-positioninformation from clearing entity computer system 345. For example, atstep 532, central trading computing platform 310 may receive, via thecommunication interface (e.g., communication interface 315), and fromthe clearing entity computer system (e.g., clearing entity computersystem 345), activity-position information associated with the one ormore mutual funds.

Referring to FIG. 5I, at step 533, central trading computing platform310 may send the activity-position information to central trackingcomputing platform 320. For example, at step 533, central tradingcomputing platform 310 may send, via the communication interface (e.g.,communication interface 315), and to a central tracking computingplatform associated with the financial institution (e.g., centraltracking computing platform 320), the activity-position informationassociated with the one or more mutual funds received from the clearingentity computer system (e.g., clearing entity computer system 345).

In some embodiments, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to update billinginformation, supervision information, and reconciliation informationbased on the activity-position information associated with the one ormore mutual funds received from the clearing entity computer system. Forexample, the central tracking computing platform associated with thefinancial institution (e.g., central tracking computing platform 320)may be configured to update billing information, supervisioninformation, and reconciliation information based on theactivity-position information associated with the one or more mutualfunds received from the clearing entity computer system (e.g., clearingentity computer system 345).

In some embodiments, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to allocate changesidentified in the activity-position information associated with the oneor more mutual funds received from the clearing entity computer systemto one or more accountholders associated with the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution. For example, the centraltracking computing platform associated with the financial institution(e.g., central tracking computing platform 320) may be configured toallocate changes identified in the activity-position informationassociated with the one or more mutual funds received from the clearingentity computer system (e.g., clearing entity computer system 345) toone or more accountholders associated with the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution.

In some embodiments, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to post the changesidentified in the activity-position information associated with the oneor more mutual funds received from the clearing entity computer systemand allocated to the one or more accountholders associated with the oneor more accounts administrated by the financial institution to one ormore trading applications provided by the discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with the financialinstitution. For example, the central tracking computing platformassociated with the financial institution (e.g., central trackingcomputing platform 320) may be configured to post the changes identifiedin the activity-position information associated with the one or moremutual funds received from the clearing entity computer system (e.g.,clearing entity computer system 345) and allocated to the one or moreaccountholders associated with the one or more accounts administrated bythe financial institution to one or more trading applications providedby the discretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330).

At step 534, central tracking computing platform 320 may receive theactivity-position information from central trading computing platform310. At step 535, central tracking computing platform 320 may update oneor more records based on the activity-position information received fromcentral trading computing platform 310. At step 536, central trackingcomputing platform 320 may allocate one or more changes in positionsidentified in the activity-position information to individualaccountholders (e.g., by creating and/or updating records identifyingparticular accountholders as owning and/or having the rights toparticular assets that have changed in position as identified in theactivity-position information).

Referring to FIG. 5J, at step 537, central tracking computing platform320 may post the one or more changes to the trading interface. At step538, central tracking computing platform 320 may send the one or morechanges to discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem 330 (e.g., to facilitate updates to the trading interfaceprovided by discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem 330). At step 539, discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system 330 may provide an updated tradinginterface (e.g., to one or more managed account advisors of thefinancial institution, to one or more financial advisors of thefinancial institution trading with discretion, or the like).

FIGS. 6A-6H depict another illustrative event sequence for deploying andimplementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments. Referring to FIG. 6A, at step 601, discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330 may provide atrading interface (which may, e.g., include one or more trading userinterfaces via which one or more managed account advisors of a financialinstitution and/or one or more financial advisors of a financialinstitution trading with discretion may create, initiate, and/or cancelone or more trades in one or more assets and/or view and/or modify otherinformation associated with trading operations associated with thefinancial institution). In some instances, the trading interface may bea website, and in providing the trading interface, discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330 may generate, serve,and/or otherwise provide one or more pages of the trading interfacewebsite. At step 602, discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330 may receive trade input. For example, at step 602,discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system 330may receive input specifying particular trades for particular accountsmaintained by the financial institution. At step 603, discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330 may send tradeinformation (e.g., identifying one or more trades corresponding to thetrade input received at step 602) to central trading computing platform310.

At step 604, central trading computing platform 310 may receive thetrade information from discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330. For example, at step 604, central trading computingplatform 310 may receive, via the communication interface (e.g.,communication interface 315), and from a discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with a financialinstitution (e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330), trade information defining one or more trades inone or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution.

In some embodiments, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to provide one or more trading user interfaces to oneor more managed account advisors associated with the financialinstitution. For example, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institution(e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system330) may be configured to provide one or more trading user interfaces toone or more managed account advisors associated with the financialinstitution.

In some embodiments, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to receive trade input specifying the one or moretrades in the one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities forthe one or more accounts administrated by the financial institution viathe one or more trading user interfaces provided to the one or moremanaged account advisors associated with the financial institution. Forexample, the discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionaryand managed accounts administration computer system 330) may beconfigured to receive trade input specifying the one or more trades inthe one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for the oneor more accounts administrated by the financial institution via the oneor more trading user interfaces provided to the one or more managedaccount advisors associated with the financial institution.

In some embodiments, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to provide one or more trading user interfaces to oneor more financial advisors associated with the financial institution.For example, the discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution (e.g.,discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system 330)may be configured to provide one or more trading user interfaces to oneor more financial advisors associated with the financial institution.

In some embodiments, the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay be configured to receive trade input specifying the one or moretrades in the one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities forthe one or more accounts administrated by the financial institution viathe one or more trading user interfaces provided to the one or morefinancial advisors associated with the financial institution. Forexample, the discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionaryand managed accounts administration computer system 330) may beconfigured to receive trade input specifying the one or more trades inthe one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for the oneor more accounts administrated by the financial institution via the oneor more trading user interfaces provided to the one or more financialadvisors associated with the financial institution.

Referring to FIG. 6B, at step 605, central trading computing platform310 may validate the trade information received from discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330. For example, atstep 605, central trading computing platform 310 may validate the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more exchangetraded funds or equity securities for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330).

In some embodiments, validating the trade information defining the oneor more trades in the one or more exchange traded funds or equitysecurities for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionmay include accepting the one or more trades in the one or more exchangetraded funds or equity securities for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution based on one or moreprocessing rules associated with the one or more exchange traded fundsor equity securities. For example, in validating the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more exchange traded fundsor equity securities for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution received from the discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with the financialinstitution (e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330), central trading computing platform 310 may acceptthe one or more trades in the one or more exchange traded funds orequity securities for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution based on one or more processing rules associatedwith the one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities. Suchprocessing rules may, for instance, be stored and/or otherwisemaintained by central trading computing platform 310 in trading database314.

At step 606, central trading computing platform 310 may create orderinformation (e.g., identifying one or more orders to be executed inaccordance with the trade information) based on the trade informationreceived from discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem 330. For example, after validating the trade information definingthe one or more trades in the one or more exchange traded funds orequity securities for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution received from the discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with the financialinstitution (e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330), central trading computing platform 310 may createorder information based on the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more exchange traded funds or equitysecurities for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institution(e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system330).

In some embodiments, creating the order information based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more exchangetraded funds or equity securities for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution may include adding one or moreindicators identifying the custodian different from the financialinstitution to the trade information defining the one or more trades inthe one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for the oneor more accounts administrated by the financial institution receivedfrom the discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution. For example, increating the order information based on the trade information definingthe one or more trades in the one or more exchange traded funds orequity securities for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution received from the discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with the financialinstitution (e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330), central trading computing platform 310 may add oneor more indicators identifying the custodian different from thefinancial institution to the trade information defining the one or moretrades in the one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities forthe one or more accounts administrated by the financial institutionreceived from the discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution (e.g.,discretionary and managed accounts administration computer system 330).Such indicators may, for instance, enable and/or cause the trades to besettled with the custodian operating trustee computer system 340 insteadof with the financial institution operating central trading computingplatform 310.

At step 607, central trading computing platform 310 may send the orderinformation to clearing entity computer system 345. For example, at step607, central trading computing platform 310 may send, via thecommunication interface (e.g., communication interface 315), and to aclearing entity computer system (e.g., clearing entity computer system345), the order information created based on the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more exchange traded fundsor equity securities for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution received from the discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with the financialinstitution (e.g., discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330). In addition, the order information created basedon the trade information defining the one or more trades in the one ormore exchange traded funds or equity securities for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution may be configured to cause theclearing entity computer system to settle the one or more trades in theone or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution with acustodian different from the financial institution. For example, theorder information created by central trading computing platform 310based on the trade information defining the one or more trades in theone or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution received fromthe discretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330) may be configuredto cause the clearing entity computer system (e.g., clearing entitycomputer system 345) to settle the one or more trades in the one or moreexchange traded funds or equity securities for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution with a custodian differentfrom the financial institution. In some embodiments, the custodian mayhold one or more assets of the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution in trust, such that the one or more assets of theone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution are heldaway from the financial institution.

At step 608, central trading computing platform 310 may send extendedorder information to central tracking computing platform 320. Referringto FIG. 6C, at step 609, clearing entity computer system 345 may receivethe order information from central trading computing platform 310. Atstep 610, clearing entity computer system 345 may send the orderinformation to trustee computer system 340. At step 611, clearing entitycomputer system 345 may process the order information. In processing theorder information (e.g., at step 611), clearing entity computer system345 may, for instance, place and/or execute one or more trades inaccordance with the order information. At step 612, clearing entitycomputer system 345 may create confirmation information (e.g.,confirming and/or otherwise indicating that one or more shares of one ormore equity securities, exchange traded funds, and/or other securitieshave been purchased, sold, or otherwise processed in accordance with theorder information).

Referring to FIG. 6D, at step 613, clearing entity computer system 345may send the confirmation information to trustee computer system 340. Atstep 614, clearing entity computer system 345 may send the confirmationinformation to central trading computing platform 310. At step 615,central trading computing platform 310 may receive the confirmationinformation. At step 616, central trading computing platform 310 maysend the confirmation information to central tracking computing platform320.

Referring to FIG. 6E, at step 617, central tracking computing platform320 may receive the confirmation information. At step 618, centraltracking computing platform 320 may update one or more records based onthe confirmation information. At step 619, central tracking computingplatform 320 may allocate one or more orders to one or more individualaccountholders (e.g., by creating and/or updating records identifyingparticular accountholders as owning and/or having the rights toparticular assets that were purchased, sold, or otherwise affected bythe orders that were processed and/or executed, for instance, byclearing entity computer system 345). At step 620, clearing entitycomputer system 345 may create settlement information (which may, e.g.,include information that enables settlement between the parties byfacilitating the transfer of the assets that were purchased, forinstance, from an entity operating clearing entity computer system 345to the trustee-custodian operating trustee computer system 340 and/or byfacilitating the transfer of funds from the trustee-custodian operatingtrustee computer system 340 to the entity operating clearing entitycomputer system 345 for the assets that were purchased).

Referring to FIG. 6F, at step 621, clearing entity computer system 345may send the settlement information to trustee computer system 340. Atstep 622, clearing entity computer system 345 may createactivity-position information. For example, at step 622, clearing entitycomputer system 345 may create such activity-position information basedon activity and/or changes in position of particular equity securities,exchanged traded funds, and/or other securities during a predeterminedtime period, such as at the end of the business day, at the end of theweek, or the like. In addition, such activity-position information may,for instance, identify the changes in position of particular equitysecurities, exchanged traded funds, and/or other securities during apredetermined time period, such as at the end of the business day, atthe end of the week, or the like, by including information associatedwith a current value and/or other attributes of such equity securities,exchanged traded funds, and/or other securities. At step 623, clearingentity computer system 345 may send the activity-position information totrustee computer system 340. At step 624, trustee computer system 340may send the activity-position information to central trading computingplatform 310. By receiving the activity-position information fromtrustee computer system 340, central trading computing platform 310and/or central tracking computing platform 320 may be able to provideone or more users of discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330 with current and accurate information about theassets that are held by the trustee-custodian operating trustee computersystem 340, such as the current quantity of such assets, the currentprice of such assets, the current value of such assets, and/or the like.In some instances, the activity-position information received by centraltrading computing platform 310 from trustee computer system 340 mayinclude only the activity-position information received by trusteecomputer system 340 from clearing entity computer system 345 at step623. In other instances, the activity-position information received bycentral trading computing platform 310 from trustee computer system 340may include the activity-position information received by trusteecomputer system 340 from clearing entity computer system 345 at step 623and/or other activity-position information associated with other assetsand/or all assets that are held by the trustee-custodian operatingtrustee computer system 340 for the benefit of one or more specificaccountholders.

In one or more alternative arrangements, rather than trustee computersystem 340 sending activity-position information to central tradingcomputing platform 310 (which may, e.g., then send the activity-positioninformation to central tracking computing platform 320 as discussed ingreater detail below), trustee computer system 340 may send theactivity-position information directly to central tracking computingplatform 320. In other alternative arrangements, activity-positioninformation may be sent from trustee computer system 340 to centraltrading computing platform 310 and/or central tracking computingplatform 320 via one or more third-party entities and/or computersystems, such as via one or more vendors and/or vendor computer systemswhich may support the operations of central trading computing platform310 and/or central tracking computing platform 320 and/or which maysupport the operations of a financial institution operating centraltrading computing platform 310 and/or central tracking computingplatform 320.

Referring to FIG. 6G, at step 625, central trading computing platform310 may receive the activity-position information from trustee computersystem 340. For example, at step 625, central trading computing platform310 may receive, via the communication interface (e.g., communicationinterface 315), and from the trustee computer system associated with thecustodian different from the financial institution (e.g., trusteecomputer system 340), activity-position information associated with theone or more exchange traded funds or equity securities. At step 626,central trading computing platform 310 may send the activity-positioninformation to central tracking computing platform 320. For example, atstep 626, central trading computing platform 310 may send, via thecommunication interface (e.g., communication interface 315), and to acentral tracking computing platform associated with the financialinstitution (e.g., central tracking computing platform 320), theactivity-position information associated with the one or more exchangetraded funds or equity securities received from the trustee computersystem associated with the custodian different from the financialinstitution (e.g., trustee computer system 340).

In some embodiments, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to update billinginformation, supervision information, and reconciliation informationbased on the activity-position information associated with the one ormore exchange traded funds or equity securities received from thetrustee computer system associated with the custodian different from thefinancial institution. For example, the central tracking computingplatform associated with the financial institution (e.g., centraltracking computing platform 320) may be configured to update billinginformation, supervision information, and reconciliation informationbased on the activity-position information associated with the one ormore exchange traded funds or equity securities received from thetrustee computer system associated with the custodian different from thefinancial institution (e.g., trustee computer system 340).

In some embodiments, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to allocate changesidentified in the activity-position information associated with the oneor more exchange traded funds or equity securities received from thetrustee computer system associated with the custodian different from thefinancial institution to one or more accountholders associated with theone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution. Forexample, the central tracking computing platform associated with thefinancial institution (e.g., central tracking computing platform 320)may be configured to allocate changes identified in theactivity-position information associated with the one or more exchangetraded funds or equity securities received from the trustee computersystem associated with the custodian different from the financialinstitution (e.g., trustee computer system 340) to one or moreaccountholders associated with the one or more accounts administrated bythe financial institution.

In some embodiments, the central tracking computing platform associatedwith the financial institution may be configured to post the changesidentified in the activity-position information associated with the oneor more exchange traded funds or equity securities received from thetrustee computer system associated with the custodian different from thefinancial institution and allocated to the one or more accountholdersassociated with the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution to one or more trading applications provided by thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution. For example, the centraltracking computing platform associated with the financial institution(e.g., central tracking computing platform 320) may be configured topost the changes identified in the activity-position informationassociated with the one or more exchange traded funds or equitysecurities received from the trustee computer system associated with thecustodian different from the financial institution (e.g., trusteecomputer system 340) and allocated to the one or more accountholdersassociated with the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution to one or more trading applications provided by thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution (e.g., discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system 330).

At step 627, central tracking computing platform 320 may receive theactivity-position information from central trading computing platform310. At step 628, central tracking computing platform 320 may update oneor more records based on the activity-position information received fromcentral trading computing platform 310. Referring to FIG. 6H, at step629, central tracking computing platform 320 may allocate one or morechanges in positions identified in the activity-position information toindividual accountholders (e.g., by creating and/or updating recordsidentifying particular accountholders as owning and/or having the rightsto particular assets that have changed in position as identified in theactivity-position information). At step 630, central tracking computingplatform 320 may post the one or more changes to the trading interface.At step 631, central tracking computing platform 320 may send the one ormore changes to discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330 (e.g., to facilitate updates to the tradinginterface provided by discretionary and managed accounts administrationcomputer system 330). At step 632, discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system 330 may provide an updated tradinginterface (e.g., to one or more managed account advisors of thefinancial institution, to one or more financial advisors of thefinancial institution trading with discretion, or the like).

FIG. 7 depicts an illustrative method for deploying and implementingcentralized trading and tracking computing platforms to supporttri-party trading in accordance with one or more example embodiments.Referring to FIG. 7, at step 705, a computing platform may receive, viaa communication interface, and from a retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with a financial institution,trade information defining one or more trades in one or more mutualfunds for one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution. At step 710, the computing platform may validate the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more mutualfunds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution. At step 715,after validating the trade information defining the one or more tradesin the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution, the computing platform may create orderinformation based on the trade information defining the one or moretrades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution.

At step 720, the computing platform may send, via the communicationinterface, and to a clearing entity computer system, the orderinformation created based on the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution, where the order information created based on thetrade information defining the one or more trades in the one or moremutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution is configuredto cause the clearing entity computer system to settle the one or moretrades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution with a custodian differentfrom the financial institution. At step 725, the computing platform mayreceive, via the communication interface, and from the clearing entitycomputer system, activity-position information associated with the oneor more mutual funds. At step 730, the computing platform may send, viathe communication interface, and to a central tracking computingplatform associated with the financial institution, theactivity-position information associated with the one or more mutualfunds received from the clearing entity computer system.

FIG. 8 depicts another illustrative method for deploying andimplementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments. Referring to FIG. 8, at step 805, a computing platform mayreceive, via a communication interface, and from a discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system associated with afinancial institution, trade information defining one or more trades inone or more mutual funds for one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution. At step 810, the computing platform may validatethe trade information defining the one or more trades in the one or moremutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financialinstitution. At step 815, after validating the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for theone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution receivedfrom the discretionary and managed accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution, the computing platformmay create order information based on the trade information defining theone or more trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution.

At step 820, the computing platform may send, via the communicationinterface, and to a clearing entity computer system, the orderinformation created based on the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution, where the order informationcreated based on the trade information defining the one or more tradesin the one or more mutual funds for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution is configured to cause theclearing entity computer system to settle the one or more trades in theone or more mutual funds for the one or more accounts administrated bythe financial institution with a custodian different from the financialinstitution. At step 825, the computing platform may receive, via thecommunication interface, and from the clearing entity computer system,activity-position information associated with the one or more mutualfunds. At step 830, the computing platform may send, via thecommunication interface, and to a central tracking computing platformassociated with the financial institution, the activity-positioninformation associated with the one or more mutual funds received fromthe clearing entity computer system.

FIG. 9 depicts another illustrative method for deploying andimplementing centralized trading and tracking computing platforms tosupport tri-party trading in accordance with one or more exampleembodiments. Referring to FIG. 9, at step 905, a computing platform mayreceive, via a communication interface, and from a discretionary andmanaged accounts administration computer system associated with afinancial institution, trade information defining one or more trades inone or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution. At step 910, thecomputing platform may validate the trade information defining the oneor more trades in the one or more exchange traded funds or equitysecurities for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financialinstitution. At step 915, after validating the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the one or more exchange traded fundsor equity securities for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution received from the discretionary and managedaccounts administration computer system associated with the financialinstitution, the computing platform may create order information basedon the trade information defining the one or more trades in the one ormore exchange traded funds or equity securities for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution.

At step 920, the computing platform may send, via the communicationinterface, and to a clearing entity computer system, the orderinformation created based on the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the one or more exchange traded funds or equitysecurities for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the discretionary and managed accountsadministration computer system associated with the financialinstitution, where the order information created based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the one or more exchangetraded funds or equity securities for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from thediscretionary and managed accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution is configured to cause theclearing entity computer system to settle the one or more trades in theone or more exchange traded funds or equity securities for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution with acustodian different from the financial institution. At step 925, thecomputing platform may receive, via the communication interface, andfrom a trustee computer system associated with the custodian differentfrom the financial institution, activity-position information associatedwith the one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities. At step930, the computing platform may send, via the communication interface,and to a central tracking computing platform associated with thefinancial institution, the activity-position information associated withthe one or more exchange traded funds or equity securities received fromthe trustee computer system associated with the custodian different fromthe financial institution.

One or more aspects of the disclosure may be embodied in computer-usabledata or computer-executable instructions, such as in one or more programmodules, executed by one or more computers or other devices to performthe operations described herein. Generally, program modules includeroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, and the likethat perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes when executed by one or more processors in a computer or otherdata processing device. The computer-executable instructions may bestored on a computer-readable medium such as a hard disk, optical disk,removable storage media, solid-state memory, RAM, and the like. Thefunctionality of the program modules may be combined or distributed asdesired in various embodiments. In addition, the functionality may beembodied in whole or in part in firmware or hardware equivalents, suchas integrated circuits, application-specific integrated circuits(ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGA), and the like. Particulardata structures may be used to more effectively implement one or moreaspects of the disclosure, and such data structures are contemplated tobe within the scope of computer executable instructions andcomputer-usable data described herein.

Various aspects described herein may be embodied as a method, anapparatus, or as one or more computer-readable media storingcomputer-executable instructions. Accordingly, those aspects may takethe form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirely softwareembodiment, an entirely firmware embodiment, or an embodiment combiningsoftware, hardware, and firmware aspects in any combination. Inaddition, various signals representing data or events as describedherein may be transferred between a source and a destination in the formof light or electromagnetic waves traveling through signal-conductingmedia such as metal wires, optical fibers, or wireless transmissionmedia (e.g., air or space). In general, the one or morecomputer-readable media may comprise one or more non-transitorycomputer-readable media.

As described herein, the various methods and acts may be operativeacross one or more computing servers and one or more networks. Thefunctionality may be distributed in any manner, or may be located in asingle computing device (e.g., a server, a client computer, and thelike). For example, in alternative embodiments, one or more of thecomputing platforms discussed above may be combined into a singlecomputing platform, and the various functions of each computing platformmay be performed by the single computing platform. In such arrangements,any and/or all of the above-discussed communications between computingplatforms may correspond to data being accessed, moved, modified,updated, and/or otherwise used by the single computing platform.Additionally or alternatively, one or more of the computing platformsdiscussed above may be implemented in one or more virtual machines thatare provided by one or more physical computing devices. In sucharrangements, the various functions of each computing platform may beperformed by the one or more virtual machines, and any and/or all of theabove-discussed communications between computing platforms maycorrespond to data being accessed, moved, modified, updated, and/orotherwise used by the one or more virtual machines.

Aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of illustrativeembodiments thereof. Numerous other embodiments, modifications, andvariations within the scope and spirit of the appended claims will occurto persons of ordinary skill in the art from a review of thisdisclosure. For example, one or more of the steps depicted in theillustrative figures may be performed in other than the recited order,and one or more depicted steps may be optional in accordance withaspects of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system, comprising: at least one processor; acommunication interface communicatively coupled to the at least oneprocessor; and memory storing computer-readable instructions that, whenexecuted by the at least one processor, cause the system to: receive,via the communication interface, and from a retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with a financial institution,trade information defining one or more trades in at least one asset forone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution, whereinthe retirement group accounts administration computer system associatedwith the financial institution is configured to provide one or moreretirement plan user interfaces to one or more participants in anemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution; validate the trade information defining the one or moretrades in the at least one asset for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution; after validating the trade information definingthe one or more trades in the at least one asset for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution, create order information based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the at least one assetfor the one or more accounts administrated by the financial institutionreceived from the retirement group accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution, wherein creating theorder information based on the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the at least one asset for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution comprises adding one or more indicatorsidentifying a custodian different from the financial institution to thetrade information defining the one or more trades in the at least oneasset for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution; send, via thecommunication interface, and to a clearing entity computer system, theorder information created based on the trade information defining theone or more trades in the at least one asset for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution, wherein sending the order information createdbased on the trade information defining the one or more trades in the atleast one asset for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution received from the retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionto the clearing entity computer system causes the clearing entitycomputer system to execute and settle the one or more trades in the atleast one asset for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution with the custodian different from the financialinstitution; receive, via the communication interface, and from theclearing entity computer system, activity-position informationassociated with the at least one asset; and send, via the communicationinterface, and to a central tracking computing platform associated withthe financial institution, the activity-position information associatedwith the at least one asset received from the clearing entity computersystem.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionis configured to receive one or more participant elections from the oneor more participants in the employer-sponsored retirement planadministered by the financial institution via the one or more retirementplan user interfaces provided to the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the retirement groupaccounts administration computer system associated with the financialinstitution is configured to receive contribution information associatedwith one or more payroll contributions made by the one or moreparticipants in the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution to the employer-sponsored retirement planadministered by the financial institution.
 4. The system of claim 3,wherein the retirement group accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution is configured to calculate theone or more trades in the at least one asset for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution based on thecontribution information associated with the one or more payrollcontributions made by the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution to the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein validatingthe trade information defining the one or more trades in the at leastone asset for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution comprisesaccepting the one or more trades in the at least one asset for the oneor more accounts administrated by the financial institution based on oneor more processing rules associated with the at least one asset andbased on one or more product rules associated with the at least oneasset.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the custodian holds one or moreassets of the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered by thefinancial institution in trust, such that the one or more assets of theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution are held away from the financial institution.
 7. The systemof claim 6, wherein the one or more assets of the employer-sponsoredretirement plan administered by the financial institution are held in asingle combined account, and wherein the system allocates the one ormore assets of the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution to the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the central trackingcomputing platform associated with the financial institution isconfigured to update billing information, supervision information, andreconciliation information based on the activity-position informationassociated with the at least one asset received from the clearing entitycomputer system.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the central trackingcomputing platform associated with the financial institution isconfigured to allocate changes identified in the activity-positioninformation associated with the at least one asset received from theclearing entity computer system to the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution.
 10. The system of claim 9, wherein the central trackingcomputing platform associated with the financial institution isconfigured to post the changes identified in the activity-positioninformation associated with the at least one asset received from theclearing entity computer system and allocated to the one or moreparticipants in the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution to a participant portal provided by theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution.
 11. A method, comprising: at a computingplatform comprising at least one processor, memory, and a communicationinterface: receiving, by the at least one processor, via thecommunication interface, and from a retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with a financial institution,trade information defining one or more trades in at least one asset forone or more accounts administrated by the financial institution, whereinthe retirement group accounts administration computer system associatedwith the financial institution is configured to provide one or moreretirement plan user interfaces to one or more participants in anemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution; validating, by the at least one processor, the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the at least one assetfor the one or more accounts administrated by the financial institutionreceived from the retirement group accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution; after validating thetrade information defining the one or more trades in the at least oneasset for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution, creating, bythe at least one processor, order information based on the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the at least one assetfor the one or more accounts administrated by the financial institutionreceived from the retirement group accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution, wherein creating theorder information based on the trade information defining the one ormore trades in the at least one asset for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution comprises adding one or more indicatorsidentifying a custodian different from the financial institution to thetrade information defining the one or more trades in the at least oneasset for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution; sending, bythe at least one processor, via the communication interface, and to aclearing entity computer system, the order information created based onthe trade information defining the one or more trades in the at leastone asset for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution, whereinsending the order information created based on the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the at least one asset for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution received fromthe retirement group accounts administration computer system associatedwith the financial institution to the clearing entity computer systemcauses the clearing entity computer system to execute and settle the oneor more trades in the at least one asset for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution with the custodian differentfrom the financial institution; receiving, by the at least oneprocessor, via the communication interface, and from the clearing entitycomputer system, activity-position information associated with the atleast one asset; and sending, by the at least one processor, via thecommunication interface, and to a central tracking computing platformassociated with the financial institution, the activity-positioninformation associated with the at least one asset received from theclearing entity computer system.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution is configured to receive one or moreparticipant elections from the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution via the one or more retirement plan user interfaces providedto the one or more participants in the employer-sponsored retirementplan administered by the financial institution.
 13. The method of claim12, wherein the retirement group accounts administration computer systemassociated with the financial institution is configured to receivecontribution information associated with one or more payrollcontributions made by the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution to the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution is configured to calculate the one or moretrades in the at least one asset for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution based on the contributioninformation associated with the one or more payroll contributions madeby the one or more participants in the employer-sponsored retirementplan administered by the financial institution to the employer-sponsoredretirement plan administered by the financial institution.
 15. Themethod of claim 11, wherein validating the trade information definingthe one or more trades in the at least one asset for the one or moreaccounts administrated by the financial institution received from theretirement group accounts administration computer system associated withthe financial institution comprises accepting the one or more trades inthe at least one asset for the one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution based on one or more processing rules associatedwith the at least one asset and based on one or more product rulesassociated with the at least one asset.
 16. The method of claim 11,wherein the custodian holds one or more assets of the employer-sponsoredretirement plan administered by the financial institution in trust, suchthat the one or more assets of the employer-sponsored retirement planadministered by the financial institution are held away from thefinancial institution.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the one ormore assets of the employer-sponsored retirement plan administered bythe financial institution are held in a single combined account, andwherein the computing platform allocates the one or more assets of theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution to the one or more participants in the employer-sponsoredretirement plan administered by the financial institution.
 18. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the central tracking computing platformassociated with the financial institution is configured to updatebilling information, supervision information, and reconciliationinformation based on the activity-position information associated withthe at least one asset received from the clearing entity computersystem.
 19. The method of claim 11, wherein the central trackingcomputing platform associated with the financial institution isconfigured to allocate changes identified in the activity-positioninformation associated with the at least one asset received from theclearing entity computer system to the one or more participants in theemployer-sponsored retirement plan administered by the financialinstitution.
 20. One or more non-transitory computer-readable mediastoring instructions that, when executed by a computer system comprisingat least one processor, memory, and a communication interface, cause thecomputer system to: receive, via the communication interface, and from aretirement group accounts administration computer system associated witha financial institution, trade information defining one or more tradesin at least one asset for one or more accounts administrated by thefinancial institution, wherein the retirement group accountsadministration computer system associated with the financial institutionis configured to provide one or more retirement plan user interfaces toone or more participants in an employer-sponsored retirement planadministered by the financial institution; validate the tradeinformation defining the one or more trades in the at least one assetfor the one or more accounts administrated by the financial institutionreceived from the retirement group accounts administration computersystem associated with the financial institution; after validating thetrade information defining the one or more trades in the at least oneasset for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution, create orderinformation based on the trade information defining the one or moretrades in the at least one asset for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution, wherein creating the order information based onthe trade information defining the one or more trades in the at leastone asset for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution comprisesadding one or more indicators identifying a custodian different from thefinancial institution to the trade information defining the one or moretrades in the at least one asset for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution received from the retirementgroup accounts administration computer system associated with thefinancial institution; send, via the communication interface, and to aclearing entity computer system, the order information created based onthe trade information defining the one or more trades in the at leastone asset for the one or more accounts administrated by the financialinstitution received from the retirement group accounts administrationcomputer system associated with the financial institution, whereinsending the order information created based on the trade informationdefining the one or more trades in the at least one asset for the one ormore accounts administrated by the financial institution received fromthe retirement group accounts administration computer system associatedwith the financial institution to the clearing entity computer systemcauses the clearing entity computer system to execute and settle the oneor more trades in the at least one asset for the one or more accountsadministrated by the financial institution with the custodian differentfrom the financial institution; receive, via the communicationinterface, and from the clearing entity computer system,activity-position information associated with the at least one asset;and send, via the communication interface, and to a central trackingcomputing platform associated with the financial institution, theactivity-position information associated with the at least one assetreceived from the clearing entity computer system.